TNT Cancels 'Raising the Bar'

E! News reports that TNT has officially decided to not renew hour-long Steven Bochco legal drama Raising the Bar for a third season. The cable network cited poor ratings as the reason for cancellation (RTB was only retaining half the audience of its big time lead-in The Closer). The show, which stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue) and J. August Richards (Angel, Conviction), was one of my favorites currently airing on television.

I am going to put it all out there: I did not see this coming. I just woke up and read the news on fucking Twitter of all places, and now I just feel a tight pain in my chestal area and my hands are shaking. I feel like I am going through a bad break-up. Like TNT is that jerk boyfriend who seems perfect on the outside with the straight teeth and the big smile and then BAM!!! All of a sudden you're scarfing a pint of Ben & Jerry's once an hour and crying hysterically on the couch watching Nicholas Sparks novel movies. I feel like I can't go on.

I am honestly hurt and confused. I adore TNT with all my heart and soul. I believe in their ability to put quality television on the air, and Raising the Bar went above and beyond the call of duty to fit that ideal. I get the business of television: if a show isn't bringing in high ratings, you don't get advertisers and you don't make any money with which to continue to pay the people who make the show to make the show. Or keep your network afloat. I get it, I really do. But I don't get this. I don't think they gave Raising the Bar a chance to find an audience again. They started it out in the fall of 2008 and the first season wrapped the first week of November. It didn't return for OVER SEVEN MONTHS. Where did the audience go? Oh, I know, to I FORGOT ABOUT THIS SHOW LAND!!!!!!!!

And NOW I just saw a promo on TNT for Forensic Files! They fucking acquired a fucking "true crime" series from fucking truTV, but they didn't renew Raising the Motherfucking Bar??!?!?!?! This is all too much. ALL. TOO. MUCH.

*faints*

I think I have entered the "anger" stage of the grief cycle. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to leave before I start bargaining.

It remains to be seen what will come of the remaining three as-yet-unaired episodes of RTB's second season. Whether they are aired or saved for a DVD set, I don't care as long as they offer some closure (read: Bobbi and Jerry getting married). Oh, gawd, is this bargaining?!?!